Awareness of Pregnancy-Associated Health Risks Among Pregnant Women and Male Partners Surveyed in a Prenatal Clinic

This mixed-methods study aimed to determine the level of male involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in Haiti and identify barriers and associated factors. From May to June 2018, a questionnaire was used to measure the level of male involvement. Semistructured interviews with pregnant women were also conducted. Multivariate linear regression and qualitative content analyses were performed to explore factors associated and barriers to male partners’ involvement in PMTCT services. One hundred and two pregnant women living with HIV completed the questionnaire. About 47% of male partners had a high level of involvement. Specifically, 90% financially supported their spouse, and 82% knew her appointment date at the antenatal clinic (ANC). Only 25% of male partners accompanied their spouse to the ANC, and 19% routinely used a condom during sexual intercourse. Factors associated with male involvement in PMTCT were being married and sharing HIV status with the male partner. Male partners with a positive HIV status were more likely to be involved in PMTCT. Qualitative findings revealed that barriers to male involvement included the conflict between opening hours of the ANC and the male partner’s schedule, waiting time at the ANC, and the perception of antenatal care as being women’s business. Overall male partners’ involvement in PMTCT services is moderate. Gender relations, sociocultural beliefs, and care organization are likely to hinder this involvement. Developing and implementing contextually and culturally accepted strategies for male partners of pregnant women could contribute to strengthening their involvement in the PMTCT program.

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Female perspectives of male partners’ inclusion in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in KwaZulu-Natal

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v39i1.1691 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mondli Miya ◽

Tennyson Mgutshini

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Child Health Services ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Male Partners ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Financial Investment ◽

Mother To Child

Background: The South African government intervened by implementing the prevention of mother–to-child transmission programme (PMTCT) to curb the HIV transmission from mother to child during and after pregnancy. The PMTCT programme has been at the forefront of global prevention efforts since 1998. Without treatment, the risk of transmission ranges from one in five to one in two newborns; however, the risk of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced to as low as 2%–5% with evidenced interventions. Sub-Saharan Africa, and most particularly South Africa, is the most affected by the pandemic despite having the largest financial investment in PMTCT services across the continent.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe and explore the female perspectives of male inclusion in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in KwaZulu-Natal.Methodology: A qualitative, descriptive, explorative study was conducted through in-depth individual interview of pregnant women until data saturation.Results: The findings of the study revealed that the existing design of public hospitals was not wholly conducive to facilitating male inclusion in maternal and child health services. Resources were largely insufficient to support the participation of pregnant mothers and any attempts to support the inclusion of males needed to be based on a clear increase in service provision.Conclusion: The study recommended male partners’ inclusion in the prevention of mother- to-child HIV transmission to support effective management of HIV in pregnancy and PMTCT programmes. The inclusion of men will provide the holistic support needed by pregnant women on PMTCT programmes.

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The Impact of Couple HIV Testing and Counseling on Consistent Condom Use Among Pregnant Women and Their Male Partners

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes ◽

10.1097/qai.0000000000001398 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 417-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Nora E. Rosenberg ◽

Lauren A. Graybill ◽

Austin Wesevich ◽

Nuala McGrath ◽

Carol E. Golin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Male Partners ◽

Consistent Condom Use ◽

Hiv Testing And Counseling ◽

Couple Hiv Testing ◽

The Impact ◽

Testing And Counseling

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What do You Need to Get Male Partners of Pregnant Women Tested for HIV in Resource Limited Settings? The Baby Shower Cluster Randomized Trial

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-016-1626-0 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 587-596 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Echezona E. Ezeanolue ◽

Michael C. Obiefune ◽

Wei Yang ◽

Chinenye O. Ezeanolue ◽

Jennifer Pharr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Randomized Trial ◽

Cluster Randomized Trial ◽

Male Partners ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Cluster Randomized

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Determinants of exposure levels, metabolism, and health risks of phthalates among pregnant women in Wuhan, China

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109657 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 184 ◽

pp. 109657 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jiufeng Li ◽

Xi Qian ◽

Hongzhi Zhao ◽

Yanqiu Zhou ◽

Shunqing Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Exposure Levels

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Maternal immune responses and obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and possible health risks of offspring

Journal of Reproductive Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.jri.2020.103250 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 ◽

pp. 103250

Author(s):

Marcelo Borges Cavalcante ◽

Candice Torres de Melo Bezerra Cavalcante ◽

Manoel Sarno ◽

Ricardo Barini ◽

Joanne Kwak-Kim

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Obstetrical Outcomes

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Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy: Knowledge and Experiences of Pregnant Women and Controlling Behavior of Male Partners in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

International Journal of Reproductive Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/7626741 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oche Mansur Oche ◽

Habibullah Adamu ◽

Aisha Abubakar ◽

Munira Sahabi Aliyu ◽

Abubakar Shehu Dogondaji

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Facility ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Good Knowledge ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Male Partners ◽

Controlling Behaviors

Background. Violence against women perpetrated by an intimate partner is an important public health issue. In recent years, attention has focused also on intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy due to its prevalence, adverse health consequences, and intervention potentials. Aim. To determine the knowledge, experiences, and factors influencing IPV, including the controlling behaviors of male partners of pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic (ANC) of a tertiary health facility in Sokoto. Materials and method. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 pregnant women attending ANC in a tertiary health facility in the Sokoto metropolis. They were selected using a systematic sampling technique, and a set of pretested questionnaire items was used for data collection. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. Results. The respondents’ ages ranged from 19 to 40 years with a mean of 29.09±4.99 years, and up to 83.5% of them were in a monogamous setting. Three-quarters of them were Muslims mostly from urban areas (72.1%), and 36.4% had a university or HND degree. Majority of them responded correctly to questions on IPV; overall, up to 99.2% of them had good knowledge of IPV. About 33% of the respondents have experienced IPV while pregnant and up to 61.7% of them said they did nothing because of fear. Some of the controlling behaviors of male partners included always asking for permission before seeing friends and family members and also controlling their finances. Factors associated with IPV include tribe, place of residence, and partner consuming alcohol. Conclusion. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of IPV with about one-third of them ever experiencing it. Respondent’s partners were mostly jealous and exhibited some form of controlling behaviors. Physical violence was the most prevalent form, and most of the victims did nothing about it. Government and women’s right groups should push for the implementation of tougher punitive measures against perpetrators of IPV.

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Pregnant Aboriginal women self-assess health risks from smoking and efficacy to quit over time using an adapted Risk Behaviour Diagnosis (RBD) Scale

The Journal of Smoking Cessation ◽

10.1017/jsc.2020.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 198-205

Author(s):

Gillian Sandra Gould ◽

Simon Chiu ◽

Christopher Oldmeadow ◽

Yael Bar-Zeev ◽

Michelle Bovill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Coping Style ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Perceived Threat ◽

Aboriginal Women ◽

Stop Smoking ◽

Intentions To Quit ◽

Stable Reduction ◽

Over Time

AbstractIntroductionDuring pregnancy, the imperative to stop smoking becomes urgent due to health risks for mother and baby.AimExplore responses to a smoking-related, pregnancy-focused Risk Behaviour Diagnosis (RBD) Scale over time with Aboriginal1 pregnant women.MethodsSix Aboriginal Medical Services in three states recruited 22 eligible women: ⩽28 weeks' gestation, ⩾16 years old, smoked tobacco, pregnant with an Aboriginal baby. Surveys were completed at baseline (n = 22), 4-weeks (n = 16) and 12-weeks (n = 17). RBD Scale outcome measures included: perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), perceived efficacy (response and self-efficacy), fear control (avoidance), danger control (intentions to quit) and protection responses (protecting babies).ResultsAt baseline, the total mean threat scores at 4.2 (95% CI: 3.9–4.4) were higher than total mean efficacy scores at 3.9 (95% CI: 3.6–4.1). Over time there was a non-significant reduction in total mean threat and efficacy; fear control increased; danger control and protection responses remained stable. Reduction of threat and efficacy perceptions, with raised fear control responses, may indicate a blunting effect (a coping style which involves avoidance of risks).ConclusionIn 22 Aboriginal pregnant women, risk perception changed over time. A larger study is warranted to understand how Aboriginal women perceive smoking risks as the pregnancy progresses so that health messages are delivered accordingly.

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